U.S. patent number 6,041,697 [Application Number 09/099,717] was granted by the patent office on 2000-03-28 for apparatus for controlled cracking of nut-like fruits and the like.
Invention is credited to Chaim Maoz.
United States Patent |
6,041,697 |
Maoz |
March 28, 2000 |
Apparatus for controlled cracking of nut-like fruits and the
like
Abstract
An apparatus for the controlled fracture of the outer hull of a
nut-like fruit wherein a reciprocable piston is moved within a
frame and is supported and guided by arms that interfit with the
piston to guide it or non-rotating movement into and out of
engagement with the nut-like fruit. A key actuator is rotated by
the user and which rotates an actuator, threadedly interengaged
with the frame and which serves to provide the reciprocable
movement of the piston. The nut hull is itself positioned between
the piston and an anvil that among the surfaces of the piston and
anvil that crack the nut hull are both configured so as to retain
the nut in a stable position where it can be acted upon by the
apparatus. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus is modified so
as to act as a garlic press using the same piston constrained
motion. In a still further embodiment. the apparatus is modified so
as to operate as a corkscrew to safely and easily remove the corks
from bottles such as wine bottles.
Inventors: |
Maoz; Chaim (Tenafly, NJ) |
Family
ID: |
22276295 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/099,717 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/572; 30/120.2;
30/120.5; 99/568; 99/579; 99/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
43/26 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
43/26 (20060101); A47J 43/00 (20060101); A23N
005/00 (); A23N 005/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;99/568,572,573,577-583,574,575,600,602,617,618 ;83/856,870,932
;80/126,129,154 ;D7/680 ;426/481-483 ;30/120.1-120.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Simone; Timothy
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Klauber & Jackson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for the controlled fracture of the outer hull of
nut-like fruit comprising:
A. a support housing comprising a base for the support of an anvil
means for the reception of said nut-like fruit;
B. arcuate frame means communicating with said support housing,
having an apical end and arms extending away therefrom, said arms
adapted for connection to said base adjacent said anvil means, and
a screw-threaded opening at said apical end;
C. reciprocable plunger means associated with said frame means,
said plunger means comprising a reciprocable piston, said piston
adapted for sliding contact with said arms throughout its extent of
travel, and screw-threaded actuator arm means screw-threadedly
reciprocable within said opening, said actuator arm having a
proximal end freely rotatably journaled within said piston, and a
distal end extending beyond said opening; and a key-like actuator
mounted on said distal end for the rotation of said actuator arm in
the operation of said plunger means;
D. wherein the operation of said apparatus permits the controlled
fracture of the outer hull of the nut-like fruit without damaging
the meat contained therein.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein support housing includes a
semi-cylindrical wall extending upward from said base, said wall
adapted for communication with said arms to define a chamber for
the retention of the nut-like fruit being fractured.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 including anvil means supported by said
base and communicating with said arms, said anvil means having a
concavity disposed therein for the cradling of said nut-like
fruit.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said anvil means further
defines a plurality of slots therein, for the passage there through
of nut shell fragments.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said anvil means is essentially
circular and disk-like, and said slots are disposed within an
approximately semi-circular region of the broad surface
thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arms define parallel
tracks on their juxtaposed surfaces and said piston defines opposed
slots in the marginal edge thereof for the reception of said
tracks.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said piston defines a lower
surface adapted for impact with said nut-like fruit, and said
surface has a concavity disposed centrally therein.
8. An apparatus for the controlled pressing of a food product,
comprising:
A. a support housing comprising a base for the support of an anvil
means for the reception of said food product;
B. arcuate frame means communicating with said support housing,
having an apical end and arms extending away therefrom, said arms
adapted to be affixed to said base adjacent said anvil means, and a
screw-threaded opening at said apical end;
C. reciprocable plunger means associated with said frame means,
said plunger means comprising a reciprocable piston, said piston
adapted for sliding contact with said arms throughout its extent of
travel and screw-threaded actuator arm means screw-threadedly
reciprocable within said opening, said actuator arm having a
proximal end freely rotatably journaled within said piston, and a
distal end extending beyond said opening; and a key-like actuator
mounted on said distal end for the rotation of said actuator arm in
the operation of said plunger means;
D. wherein the operation of said apparatus permits the pressing of
a food product.
9. An apparatus for the controlled pressing of a food product as
defined in claim 8 wherein said anvil means includes a plurality of
apertures and said piston has a plurality of teeth adapted to
interfit with and enter said apertures when said piston has pressed
said food product.
10. An apparatus for the controlled pressing of a food product as
defined in claim 9 wherein said teeth are frustro-conical in
configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application relates to an apparatus for the fracture of
the outer hulls of nut-like fruits. More particularly, the
apparatus in question may extend to other applications where
reciprocable impact on a comestible product is desired, such as the
crushing of garlic and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of consumable products are known which are either
disposed within inedible outer hulls or are otherwise less
appealing in their natural state than might be the case if some
physical modification were made. Specifically, a classification of
fruits are known that have inedible outer hulls, but that contain
desirable meat there within.
A true nut has a hard shell, does not split open when ripe, and has
its kernel, or meat, in one piece. Acorns, hazelnuts, beechnuts,
and sweet chestnuts are among the true nuts in the botanical sense.
In the popular sense, many other foods are called nuts. Examples
are the peanut, which is actually a legume, and the almond and
coconut, which are drupes, or stone fruits. The edible portion of
most nuts, true nuts or otherwise, is the embryo, in which large
amounts of protein and fat are stored to nourish the young seedling
plant. The nutshell protects the kernel from contamination.
Although without the nutshell, consumption of nuts would likely be
unappealing, these shells can sometimes be the indirect cause of
much frustration. For instance, when cracking the shell open, a
handheld nutcracker is traditionally used. Although this type of
nutcracker is effective in cracking the nutshell to expose the
nutmeat contained, the delicious nutmeat is often crushed, and
therefore, difficult to eat or completely undesirable.
A variety of devices are known for the fracture or cracking of nut
hulls that employ a variety of physical movements. The traditional
nut cracker comprised of two arms that are rotatable about a
central yoke and are thereby squeezed together by hand pressure to
crush the nut placed there between. This device which is still in
broad use, has among its disadvantages, the tendency to shatter the
nut hull and the delicate meat contained therein. This is so as
there is no way to consistently apply the pressure in the crushing
operation. Generally, when one applies pressure against the rigid
outer hull of the nut, one tightens the grip around the nut cracker
in a manner in which cannot be strictly calibrated. Frequently,
strength of the person operating nut cracker is widely variant, and
a strong grip and squeeze of the nut cracker arms may result in
total shattering.
Various devices are known in the prior art that have sought to
remedy the aforementioned difficulties by the application of a more
controlled pressure against the nut during the process. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,248,313 to Gradick, Sr. discloses a nut
cracker device which utilizes a reciprocating plunger arm with a
head disposed at the forward portion thereof, and a corresponding
anvil or platen adapted to receive the nut. The Gradick device,
however, offers a small head or piston which is rigidly disposed on
the end of the plunger arm and by its size, will cause the
inordinate concentration of all of the pressure on a single point
on the surface of the outer hull. The result of the operation of
this device would be to puncture the outer hull and to destroy the
nut meat contained therein before an effective fracture of the hull
could be achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,491,628 to Ventin et al utilizes a freely
reciprocable plunger with a corresponding handle. The Ventin
device, however, suffers from the same deficiencies as the
traditional nut cracker of the prior art, as there is a lack of
ability to calibrate the action of the plunger and therefore, the
amount of pressure to be applied to the nut hull. The result of
this, is that the nut will likewise he unduly fractured and the nut
meat damaged.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,953 to Gendler discloses a compact
device with a chamber within which a nut may be placed, and a
reciprocable plunger that is screw actuated for application of
pressure to the nut. Gendler, like Gradick et al utilizes a plunger
with a small piston head, with the result that the nut hull will be
unduly fractured at one point on its surface and the nut meat will
be damaged.
A need therefore exists for a device which provides the calibration
of a screw actuated plunger while applying the forces of the
crushing process uniformly and evenly so that the nut meat is
undamaged while the hull is suitably fractured. It is to the
satisfaction and solution of the aforementioned problems that the
present invention is directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The broadest aspect of the present invention relates to an
apparatus for the controlled fracture of the outer hull of nut-like
fruit and foods of that type, which comprises a support housing
comprising a base for the support of an anvil means for the
reception of said nut-like fruit; arcuate frame means communicating
with said support housing, having an apical end and arms extending
away therefrom, said arms adapted for connection to said base
adjacent said anvil means, and a screw-threaded opening at said
apical end, reciprocable plunger means associated with said frame
means, said plunger means comprising a reciprocable piston, said
piston adapted for sliding contact with said arms throughout its
extent of travel, and screw-threaded actuator arm means
screw-threadedly reciprocable within said opening, said actuator
arm having a proximal end freely rotatably journaled within said
piston, and a distal end extending beyond said opening; and a
key-like actuator mounted on said distal end for the rotation of
said actuator arm in the operation of said plunger means; wherein
the operation of said apparatus permits the controlled fracture of
the outer hull of the nut-like fruit without damaging the meat
contained therein. Preferably, the apparatus may be made from a
durable metal such as cast aluminum and the parts in question may
be prepared so as to be interchangeable for other purposes.
More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention is made
in a generally cylindrical shape and the arms of the frame means
are disposed parallel to each other. The arms in turn, define
surfaces that are juxtaposed to each other which surfaces serve as
tracks for the controlled reciprocation of tile piston from the
plunger means. The piston in turn may be prepared as a multiple
component device. Specifically, the piston is adapted to receive
the proximal end of the actuator arm for free rotation thereof. In
this connection, the proximal end of the actuator means defines an
indentation or notch which is adapted for reception for a
correspondingly reduced diameter disk or insert of a portion of the
piston. The piston in turn is prepared in disk-like segments that
are fastened to each other during assembly and that thereby
accommodate the free rotation there within the actuator arm.
The piston on the opposite surface thereof (the impact surface)
defines a concavity which concavity corresponds to the position of
the nut workpiece during the fracturing operation. This concavity
corresponds to a like concavity disposed within the anvil that is
juxtaposed to the piston in the full assembly of the apparatus.
The apparatus of the present invention may be used for a variety of
other purposes including the crushing of garlic cloves, onions and
the like, e.g. for use as a garlic press. In such event, the anvil
will define slots that in turn, represent a screen-like member so
that the crushed fragments of the garlic may be separated from the
remainder of the original clove so that fragmented garlic material
may be recovered. In such instance and in this embodiment, the
portion of the piston making contact with the garlic will define a
plurality of regularly spaced teeth or other protrusions, that will
assist in the crushing and maceration of the garlic clove and that
will force the garlic fragments through the screen-like slots of
the anvil. In this latter mentioned embodiment, the base will
represent a removable receptacle for the crushed garlic
material.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the device may be
modified by the removal of the base and the associated anvil, and
the disposition on the piston of a corkscrew auger. Likewise, an
appropriate retaining ring may be disposed for reception by the
arms of the frame, in the same fashion as the frame retains and
associates with the base. As modified, the apparatus of the present
invention may then serve as a corkscrew or cork removing device for
wines and other bottled beverages. In similar fashion to the
controlled operation achieved when the apparatus of the present
invention is applied to the fracture of nut hulls, the cork screw
may be carefully operated so as to embed the auger in the cork and
then slowly withdraw the cork without fracturing the fragile cork
composition. In this embodiment, the auger component is associated
with the piston in a rachet and pawl relationship where the
downward pressure of the piston on the auger assembly engages the
same and causes its rotation into the cork. Upon withdrawal,
however, the rachet assembly disengages with the result that the
auger remains stationary while being lifted upwardly by the screw
action of the upper portion of the piston.
The multiple uses of the present invention are clear from the
aforementioned description. Moreover, the appearance of the device
is particularly attractive and can lend itself admirably to any
domestic decor, if the device is to be displayed when not in use,
or even in party settings where use would be contemplated in the
instance of the nut cracker function.
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to
provide a device for the controlled fracture of nut hulls and the
like which achieves such objective with a minimum of damage to the
nut meat.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus as aforesaid that is of simple durable construction and
reliable operation.
It is the further object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus as aforesaid that has the versatility for use in other
functions than as a nutcracker, such as for use in the crushing of
garlic and other fruits and vegetables.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus which may be easily modified to function as a corkscrew,
as well as to provide as a separate item, a fully functioning
corkscrew having some of the design features as aforesaid.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled
in the art from a review of the detailed description which proceeds
with reference to the following illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the nutcracker embodiment of the
apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a piston of the present
invention.
FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of the piston shown in FIG.
1A.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the housing of the apparatus of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the frame of the present
invention.
FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view of one of the arms of the frame
taken through the line 3--3 of FIG. 3
FIG. 4 is a top elevational view showing the anvil of the present
invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the anvil shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the screw threaded
actuator arm and corresponding actuator key of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is an end view thereof taken through line 6--6 of FIG.
6.
FIG. 8 is fragmentary side view of the apparatus of the present
invention modified for use as a garlic press.
FIG. 8A is a plan view showing the housing of the FIG. 8
embodiment.
FIG. 8B is a plan view showing the frame of the FIG. 8
embodiment.
FIG. 8C is a side schematic view showing the head of the piston
that is present in the garlic press embodiment of FIG. 8.
FIG. 8D is a sectional view of the piston of FIG. 8C taken along
the lines A--A of FIG. 8C.
FIG. 8E is a side view of and screen-anvil used with the FIG. 8
embodiment.
FIG. 8F is a bottom view of the screen-anvil of FIG. 8E.
FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a portion of the apparatus of
the present invention modified to serve as a corkscrew.
FIG. 9A is a plan view showing the housing of the FIG. 9
embodiment.
FIG. 9B is a plan view showing the flame of he FIG. 9
embodiment.
FIG. 9C is a schematic side sectional view showing the corkscrew
apparatus of the embodiment of FIG. 9, and the specific
construction of the piston component thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and
advantages are readily obtained.
Referring now to the figures wherein like numerals designate like
parts and particularly the FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 of the present
invention comprises a support housing 12 which is a base for the
support of an anvil means which anvil means is depicted at 14. The
base in turn is adapted for the reception and association with
arcuate frame means 16 as shown. Frame means 16 in turn defines an
apical end 18 and arms 20 extending downwardly therefrom as
depicted in FIG. 1. Arms 20 in turn at their distal ends are
adapted for communication with base 12 as shown and as will be
clearly illustrated herein, grasp and connect with base 12 to form
the overall body of the apparatus.
Referring further to FIG. 1, apical end 18 defines a screw threaded
opening 22 which receives the reciprocable plunger means generally
illustrated at 24. Plunger means in turn comprises a reciprocable
piston 26 which is associated with a corresponding screw threaded
actuator arm 28 which is adapted for free rotation within piston 26
and is thus freely rotatably journaled therein. Actuator arm 28
extends beyond opening 22 and at the end thereof terminates with
key like actuator 30 that is mounted thereon.
Referring further to FIG. 1, piston 26 as described earlier, is
adapted for reciprocation into contact with corresponding anvil 14.
Piston 26 is limited in its movement to linear reciprocation by its
interaction with the arms 20 of frame means 16 specifically, and
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, arms 20 define juxtaposed surfaces
32 that provide tracks for the reception of corresponding
indentations 34 on the opposed marginal edges of piston 26. Thus,
piston 26 is adapted to ride along the tracks defined by arms 20
and is thereby stabilized and steadied in its movement. This stable
movement confers additional control to the apparatus in the
fracturing process.
Referring now to FIG. 1A the piston 26 of the present invention is
shown in a perspective isolated view wherein the marginal
indentations 34 may be better visualized. In FIG. 1B, a side
sectional view of piston 26 is shown wherein the details of its
construction in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention
are disclosed. Specifically, and with reference to FIG. 1A, pistol
26 can be seen to have a central opening disposed therein labeled
36, which opening is adapted for the freely rotatable reception of
the actuator arm 28 as described earlier herein. Opening 36 can be
seen to define therein a reduced diameter neck 38 which neck is
adapted to associate with a corresponding ring-like indent on
actuator arm 28. Moreover, piston 26 as shown may be constructed in
modular fashion whereby the upper portion 40 of piston 26 is
separable from the lower portion 42 to enable the positioning
therein of the corresponding proximal end of the actuator arm 28 as
described. In this manner therefore, the actuator arm is disposed
for free rotation during the operation of the apparatus 10 as
explained herein.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a plan view of the housing
12 used in carrying out the present invention . As can be seen, the
housing 12 includes a semicircular wall member 46 that extends
upwardly from the base 12 and contains the fragments of the nut
meat within the apparatus 10 during it use. As is further noted,
the housing 12 includes a circular support ledge 48 that, as will
be explained, is used to provide a support for the arcuate frame
means 16.
Turning next to FIG. 3, there is shown a plan view showing the
frame 16 used in the present invention. At the apical end 18 of the
frame 16, there is provided the threaded opening 22. Arms 20 extend
downwardly therefrom and at their distal ends, provide suitable
shaped notches 50 that, when assembled as in FIG. 1, engage and
hold firmly to the circular support ledge 48. The inner surface of
the arms 20 provide the juxtaposed surfaces 32 to guide the piston
26 along its travel and prevent it from rotating such that the
piston only moves in a linear, reciprocable mode. FIG. 3A is a
cross sectional view of one of the arms 20 taken along the line
A--A of FIG. 3 and more clearly show the juxtaposed surface 32 that
provides the guide to the piston 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a top elevational
view and a side view of the anvil 14 of the present invention in
greater detail, and can be seen to comprise an essentially
disk-like device having a circular/cylindrical shape. Anvil 14
defines a plurality of slots 44 which in the first mentioned
embodiment of the present invention may be appropriately configured
as shown. Particularly, slots 44 may define openings along the
entire broad surface of anvil 14, or may, as desirable in
accordance with the first embodiment of the first invention, define
one arcuate end thereof which is solid. This solid end is disposed
within the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1 against the wall member
46. As can be seen, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, there is an
arcuate surface formed in the anvil 14 and which retains the
nut-like fruit in a secure position during the hull cracking
process. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the anvil 14 may be inserted
into the base 12 as a separate component or, alternatively, the
anvil 14 can be cast as a integral part of the support housing
12.
In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown, respectively, a side elevational
view and an end view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 6 and
showing the screw threaded actuator arm 28. The key like actuator
30 is sufficiently sized to allow the user to get sufficient
leverage in turning the screw threaded actuator arm 28 in carrying
out the purposes of the invention. At the distal end of the screw
threaded actuator arm 28, there is a slot 52 to provide for
convenient affixation of the distal end of the reciprocable piston
26 such that the rotational movement of the screw threaded actuator
arm 28 is not translated to the reciprocable piston 26.
Thus, returning briefly to FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the
present invention, it can be seen that the apparatus 10 can readily
retain a product such as an edible nut having a hard hull within
the anvil 14 by the means of a arcuate shaped surface where the
product is securely held during operation of the apparatus. The
user can, by turning the key like actuator 30 and thus the actuator
arm 28, cause the piston 26 to move in a linear, non-rotating
manner toward the nut product. The stability of the movement of the
piston is provided by means of the juxtaposed surfaces 32 that ride
within the oppositely located indentations 34 in the piston 26. The
lower surface of the piston 26 thus can be brought to bear against
the hull of the particular product and the additional movement of
the piston 26 causes the hull to break. Due to the unique
configuration of the lower surface of the piston 26 and the upper
surface of the anvil 14, the nut is retained in the correct
position during the procedure by the mutual concavity of those
surfaces. Upon cracking of the hull, the nut meat is retained in
the apparatus 10 until removed by the user. Since the amount of
pressure that can be exerted against the hull of the product is
controllable, the hull of the particular nut can be broken without
damage to the nut meat within the hull and in accordance with the
purpose of the first embodiment of the present invention.
Turning now to FIG. 8, there is shown a fragmentary view of the
apparatus of the present invention that has been modified to use as
a garlic press or to press onions or the like. A further use could
be to crush the nut meat that has been removed from the hull of
that nut. In this embodiment, the same principle of operation of
the apparatus 10 is used, that is, the reciprocable piston 26 is
caused to move into engagement with the product and the piston
again, does not have any rotational component of movement but is
supported, as described with respect to the first embodiment for
linear reciprocable motion only. In this embodiment, the base 12 is
hollowed throughout and has a bottom 54 that is open for discharge
of the garlic substance. Again, however, similar components are
present as in the first embodiment and include a frame 16 having an
apical end 18 and a pair of arcuate arms 20 extending from the
apical end 18 downwardly and being affixed to the base 12. A wall
member 46 is also utilized and which contains the particular
product. In the case of a garlic product, the use of the wall
member 46 allows the crushing of multiple cloves of garlic
simultaneously and the individual cloves are contained within the
apparatus. The reciprocable piston 26 moves within the frame 16 and
is prevented from rotational movement by the juxtaposed surfaces 32
that ride within a corresponding indentations 34 in the piston 26.
Thus, again the movement of the piston 26 is a linear, non-rotating
motion and the control of the pressure to be exerted against a food
product, such as garlic, is again deliberately controlled. The
piston 26 is moved by the rotating actuator arm 28 that is threaded
through a threaded opening 22 in the apical end 18 of the frame 16.
Accordingly, the principle of operation is the same as the first
embodiment, however, as can be seen in FIG. 1, there are a
plurality of teeth 56 that depend downwardly from the piston 26 and
are therefore directed toward the base 12, the purpose of which
will be later explained.
Turning to FIG. 8A, there is shown a plan view of the base 12 used
with the present embodiment and which has an open bottom 54 and
also includes a screen 58 and a hollow cylindrical ring 60
extending upwardly from the screen 58. Again, the wall member 46
extends further upwardly for containing the particular food garlic
in the desired position. As will be seen, the particular product to
be pressed, is placed within the cylindrical ring 60 and is thus
contained therein during the pressing operation as will be
explained.
In FIG. 8B, there is shown a plan view of the frame 16 and showing
the arcuate arms 20 depending from the apical end 18 and, in the
embodiment as shown the distal end of the frame 16 can be affixed
securely to the hollow ring 60 and the base 12 (FIG. 8A) by means
of small screws 62 to complete the assembly of the apparatus.
Turning to FIG. 8C, there is shown a side view of the piston 26
that is used with the embodiment and a further view in FIG. 8D of
the cross sectional view of the piston 26 taken along the lines
8--8 of FIG. 8C. In FIGS. 8C and 8D, the piston 26 is shown in
detail. including the plurality of teeth 56 that are preferable
frustro-conical in configuration and extend a predetermined
distance from the lower surface of the piston 26. As can be seen,
the actual number and size of the particular teeth 56 may vary
depending on the purpose of the apparatus, however in the
embodiment shown the teeth 56 are uniformly spaced throughout the
bottom of the piston 26 in order to provide uniform and complete
pressing of the garlic product. As shown, the teeth are in the
preferred configuration, however, other protrusions may be used
with the present invention and the shape of the protrusions may
vary in accordance with the particular material that is desired to
be pressed.
Turning to FIG. 8E and 8F, there is shown respectively, a plan view
and a bottom view of the screen 58 and showing a plurality of
apertures 64 that correspond to the number and size of the teeth 56
extending outwardly from piston 26. As is now clear, and returning
to FIG. 8, the plurality of teeth 56 on the bottom surface of the
piston 26 serve to crush the garlic product that is placed on top
of the screen 58 such that the teeth pass through the garlic
product and enter into the apertures 64 to fully press the garlic
in a controlled fashion. Thus, the use of the teeth 56 crushes the
garlic and pushes the mashed garlic through the apertures 64 in a
clean and efficient manner.
Turning now to FIG. 9, there is shown a further embodiment of the
present invention in which the apparatus serves as a corkscrew with
the same controlled pressure advantage as in the previous
embodiments and with a piston 26 that is moved in a linear,
non-rotating fashion. In this embodiment, the piston 26 moves in
the same manner as in the previous two embodiment, however the base
12 has an open bottom 54 that is sized so as to fit over the glass
top of a wine bottle or other bottle sealed with a cork. The base
12 is shown in plan view in FIG. 9A and the open bottom 54 is of a
standard size to press against the top of the wine bottle but
having a sufficiently large opening to allow the passage of the
cork from the wine bottle to enter the base 12 as it is removed
from the wine bottle.
In FIG. 9B, there is shown a plan view of the frame 16 and again,
as with the previous embodiment the frame 16 may be affixed to the
base 12 by means such as screws 66. As in the prior embodiments,
the arcuate frame 16 includes arms 20 extending from the apical end
18 and those arms 20 have juxtaposed surfaces 32 that serve to
guide the travel of the piston 26 and prevent its rotation during
the operation of the apparatus.
In this embodiment, however, returning briefly to FIG. 9, there is
a ratchet and pawl arrangement 68 intermediate the distal end of
the screw threaded actuator arm 28 and a corkscrew auger 70 to
allow the corkscrew auger 70 to rotate when the actuator arm 18 is
rotated in one direction, clockwise, and to disengage those
components so that the corkscrew auger 70 does not rotate with the
actuator arm 28 when that actuator arm is rotated by the user in
the opposite, or counterclockwise direction.
Turning to FIG. 9C, there is shown a schematic view of the ratchet
and pawl arrangement 68. The piston itself is, again, made up of
upper and a lower portions 40 and 42. A fixed disc 72 is located in
a depression in the upper portion of the piston 26 and serves to
push the piston downwardly as the screw threaded actuator arm 28 is
rotated in the clockwise direction. Similarly, a spring biased disc
74 acts as a ratchet to engage and disengage the corkscrew auger 70
during the operation of the apparatus. Accordingly, as the screw
threaded actuator arm 28 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the
ratchet and pawl arrangement 68 causes the actuator arm 28 to
engage the corkscrew auger 70 causing it to rotate as the piston is
moving in the downward direction into the cork of the wine bottle.
After the corkscrew auger 70 has entered the cork to the desired
firm position, the screw threaded actuator arm 28 is rotated in the
counterclockwise direction, thus disengaging the screw threaded
actuator arm 28 from the corkscrew auger 70. The spring disc 72
acts to move the piston 26 in the upward direction and the cork is
pulled out in a straight and non-rotating manner. Thus the
corkscrew auger 70 pulls the cork directly out with little force
required as the piston 26 moves along its guided track within
juxtaposed surfaces 32.
Numerous further variations and combinations of the features
discussed above can be utilized without departing from the spirit
of the invention as defined by the claims below. Accordingly, the
foregoing description of the preferred embodiment should be taken
by way of illustration rather that by way of limitation of the
invention as claimed.
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